By two years old, 75-85% of dogs have a periodontal disease caused by plaque accumulation. But the plaque or tartar buildup on your dog’s teeth is not your fault! Plaque is caused by the collection of saliva, food particles, especially carbohydrates and sugars, which are in large quantities in kibble, and bacteria on the teeth and at the gum line. 

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that forms on teeth, primarily composed of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. It is colorless initially but can turn yellowish or brown if not removed regularly. Plaque accumulation can lead to dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. If left untreated, it can harden into tartar (dental calculus). It is more difficult to remove and may require professional dental cleaning by your veterinary team, which involves putting your dog under general anesthesia.

Plaque on dog teeth develops primarily due to the accumulation of bacteria and food particles along the gum line and tooth surfaces. 

Because dogs lack salivary amylase, enzymatic digestion of starch is not initiated in the mouth.  Thus, feeding a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars can contribute to plaque formation because these substances fuel bacteria.

Inadequate dental care, such as infrequent brushing or lack of species-appropriate chews, allows plaque to accumulate. Without proper cleaning, plaque can harden into tartar (dental calculus) over time.

Several dog breeds are more prone to poor dental health due to various factors such as jaw structure, tooth alignment, and genetic predispositions. 

Breeds with short muzzles, brachycephalic breeds, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Boxers, often have crowded teeth, which can make cleaning and maintenance more challenging, leading to increased plaque and tartar buildup.

Small dog breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Maltese, and Pomeranians are predisposed to dental issues due to their small mouths, which can result in overcrowded or misaligned teeth.

Greyhounds and dachshunds are known for having narrower jaws, leading to overcrowding and misaligned teeth.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are prone to "early-onset periodontal disease," making them more susceptible to gum problems and dental decay at a young age.

Although periodontal disease is more prevalent in these breeds, it is a threat to all dogs, especially those on an ultra-processed diet that has a high level of carbohydrates. Feeding a species-appropriate fresh food diet that includes raw meaty bones is the first step to preventing periodontal disease. 

Common Veterinary Practices for Prevention and Treatment

Typical tongue actions, water drinking, or forced water spray do not easily remove dental plaque. Providing your dog chewing opportunities is a part of a good oral health plan for your dog. 

The veterinary community encourages oral health by recommending annual evaluations of the mouth, dental cleaning, daily brushing of the teeth, and providing dental chew treats designed to prevent plaque accumulation on the teeth. Most veterinarians also recommended that dogs be fed dry food to prevent plaque accumulation.

Veterinarians recommend annual dental exams and cleanings for dogs to maintain their oral health. These cleanings include thoroughly examining the entire mouth, including the teeth, gums, and oral cavity, to assess for signs of dental issues like plaque, tartar buildup, gingivitis, or dental diseases. The cleaning procedure typically includes scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, under the gum line, and polishing to smooth the tooth surfaces. Dental extractions are often necessary due to severe damage or infection.

Your dog must be fully anesthetized for a thorough examination and dental cleaning to be conducted safely and comfortably. 

Kibble is at least 50% carbohydrates, including simple sugars. Many commercially available dental chews are designed and manufactured to include hard ridges but are composed of the same carbohydrates used in kibble.  The accumulation of the excess carbohydrates and sugars on the teeth and gum line creates a perfect environment for bacteria growth, resulting in plaque formation.

Surveys revealed that only 10-20% of dog owners brush their dog’s teeth once weekly.

Switching your dog to a  fresh food diet with raw, meaty bones is the first step in establishing good oral health in your dog.  Raw dog foods contain enzymes that help protect animals' teeth and gums. These enzymes prevent tooth decay or other oral diseases, especially without sugars and starches.

Fresh food components are less likely to stick to teeth than ultra-processed kibble and canned food.

Including raw meaty bones in your dog’s food provides an abrasive action within the mouth and on the teeth that will scrape away plaque without harming the tooth enamel. 

In a 2013 study conducted by the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, given a choice, dogs prefer a diet of 30% of the metabolizable energy (ME) from protein, 63% from fat, and only 7% from carbohydrates, which closely resembles the primordial diet of the wolf. Yet the commercial dog food industry produces food that is more than 50% carbohydrates.  

At the Feed Real Institute, we advocate for fresh food diets for dogs. The Real 6X Ancestral Diet™  consists of:

Aside from the nutritional benefits of raw meaty bones, they provide natural teeth and gum cleaning, exercises for your dog’s jaw, and mental stimulation. Raw, meaty bones to add to your dog’s bowl may include:

Large weight-bearing bones like cow femur or knuckle bones are recreational, not edible bones. They are a great source of jaw exercise and mental stimulation for your dog, but should only be provided while supervising your dog. They should only be offered as raw bones. Avoid giving your dog smoked or otherwise processed bones that do not have the protective covering of meat and connective tissue surrounding them. The femur bones should be discarded once your dog has removed all connective tissue and bone marrow. Knucklebone fragments should also be discarded once the chew session is complete.

Dogs’ saliva lacks amylase, the enzyme that begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth of most mammals.

Switching your dog to a raw diet will eliminate the excessive carbohydrate levels in his diet.

Providing raw meaty bones to your dog’s diet provides a natural method of teeth cleaning and other oral health benefits.

Brady, C. (2020). In Feeding dogs: dry or raw? The science behind the debate.  Farrow Road Publishing.

The impact of home-prepared diets and home oral hygiene on oral health in cats and dogs | British Journal of Nutrition | Cambridge Core  

Lonsdale, Tom. (2001) Raw Meaty Bones: Promote Health. Dog Wise Publishing.

Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards  

Geometric analysis of macronutrient selection in breeds of the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris - PMC  

By two years old, 75-85% of dogs have a <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/periodontal-disease">periodontal disease</a> caused by <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/plaque">plaque</a> accumulation. But the plaque or <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/tartar">tartar</a> buildup on your dog’s teeth is not your fault! Plaque is caused by the collection of saliva, food particles, especially <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/carbohydrates">carbohydrates</a> and sugars, which are in large quantities in <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/kibble">kibble</a>, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/bacteria">bacteria</a> on the teeth and at the gum line. 

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that forms on teeth, primarily composed of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. It is colorless initially but can turn yellowish or brown if not removed regularly. Plaque accumulation can lead to dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. If left untreated, it can harden into tartar (<a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/dental-calculus">dental calculus</a>). It is more difficult to remove and may require professional dental cleaning by your veterinary team, which involves putting your dog under general anesthesia.

Because dogs lack salivary <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/amylase">amylase</a>, enzymatic <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/cellulase">digestion</a> of <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/starch">starch</a> is not initiated in the mouth.  Thus, feeding a diet high in carbohydrates and sugars can contribute to plaque formation because these substances fuel bacteria.

Breeds with short muzzles, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/brachycephalic">brachycephalic</a> breeds, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Boxers, often have crowded teeth, which can make cleaning and maintenance more challenging, leading to increased plaque and tartar buildup.

Typical tongue actions, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/adenosine-triphosphate">water</a> drinking, or forced water spray do not easily remove dental plaque. Providing your dog chewing opportunities is a part of a good oral health plan for your dog. 

Veterinarians recommend annual dental exams and cleanings for dogs to maintain their oral health. These cleanings include thoroughly examining the entire mouth, including the teeth, gums, and oral <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/cavity">cavity</a>, to assess for signs of dental issues like plaque, tartar buildup, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/gingivitis">gingivitis</a>, or dental diseases. The cleaning procedure typically includes scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, under the gum line, and polishing to smooth the tooth surfaces. Dental extractions are often necessary due to severe damage or <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/macrophages">infection</a>.

In a 2013 study conducted by the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, given a choice, dogs prefer a diet of 30% of the metabolizable <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/adenosine-triphosphate">energy</a> (ME) from protein, 63% from fat, and only 7% from carbohydrates, which closely resembles the primordial diet of the wolf. Yet the commercial dog food industry produces food that is more than 50% carbohydrates.  

At the Feed Real Institute, we advocate for fresh food diets for dogs. The <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/the-six-components-of-real-food">Real 6X Ancestral Diet™ </a> consists of:

Aside from the nutritional benefits of raw meaty bones, they provide natural teeth and gum cleaning, exercises for your dog’s jaw, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/mental-stimulation">mental stimulation</a>. Raw, meaty bones to add to your dog’s bowl may include:

Large weight-bearing bones like cow femur or knuckle bones are recreational, not <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/edible-bones">edible bones</a>. They are a great source of jaw exercise and mental stimulation for your dog, but should only be provided while supervising your dog. They should only be offered as raw bones. Avoid giving your dog smoked or otherwise processed bones that do not have the protective covering of meat and connective tissue surrounding them. The femur bones should be discarded once your dog has removed all connective tissue and bone marrow. Knucklebone fragments should also be discarded once the chew session is complete.

Why Are My Dog’s Teeth So Disgusting?

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